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Forum: Chat Room
Thread: Crazy English Language! |
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Thread Status: Active Total posts in this thread: 76
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ca05065
Senior Cruncher Joined: Dec 4, 2007 Post Count: 328 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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In former times English had similar rules to the French tu and vous which were thou and you.
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Thank you ca05065
---------------------------------------- One (you) - I always get a good answer from you Now on to the original mystery: How do I distinct between 'you' and 'you'? When I'm self-centered, I think everything is directed at me - only me. When I'm humble and shy, I think everything is directed at others - couldn't be me. EDIT: a 'my' changed into a 'me' [Edit 1 times, last edit by Former Member at May 23, 2018 3:19:29 AM] |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
In former times English had similar rules to the French tu and vous which were thou and you. Actually, now I looked it up (here), it was thou and ye. Mmmmm. I never thought of thou as informal, but I realise that I should have been talking about "the familiar singular form" which makes more sense. Worse, I spent some time in the north of England and was quite used to saying things like "hast tha bin" (have you been) -- so I'm annoyed at myself for not seeing this earlier! So, the question for me now becomes: should we be trying to reintroduce the use of thou? Wouldn't it be fun to try! |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
I'm afraid it doesn't help, Apis, because thou is just the formal form of the singular 'you' as I see it
and as ca05065 put it: In former times English had similar rules to the French tu and vous which were thou and you. but is this the plural 'you' as well as the singularum formal 'you'?The problem is not with the singularum 'you' (or you could choose it not to be, which I'll do in this case). You and me - we are two. You and me - we are three or more now ..... because the 'you' here is the pronoun for two or more. Can you see the problem? Or don't you have any problem with it? Spending time in Northern England is fine; then the 'music' and the dialect turn towards Danish It's the deep south - Plymouth and environs. |
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BladeD
Ace Cruncher USA Joined: Nov 17, 2004 Post Count: 28976 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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In former times English had similar rules to the French tu and vous which were thou and you. There you have it, LM!!! It was not needed!!  Finis!  |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Finis! I don't think so - I really expect Anglo-Saxons to come up with a 2. person plural word  so I shall no longe be confused or feel like an idjit or feel intrusive - geezzz it's much about feelings           |
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BladeD
Ace Cruncher USA Joined: Nov 17, 2004 Post Count: 28976 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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We, Anglo-Saxons, don't have a problem with you as is!
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
We, Anglo-Saxons, don't have a problem with you as is! Are you absolutely sure? You do want to be understood at all times and in all situations by all of us non-Anglo-Saxons trying our best don't you? Just one tiny word please  You need to think high, wide, broad, and abroad - or we'll make you speak Danish  - maybe even Dutch - double!  |
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BladeD
Ace Cruncher USA Joined: Nov 17, 2004 Post Count: 28976 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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You do want to be understood at all times and in all situations by all of us non-Anglo-Saxons trying our best don't you? Why? No one is understood at all times and in all situations by all of us Anglo-Saxons!!! |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Every language is different. Counting seems to be one of the biggest differences. Some have special words, or word endings, for one thing, two things and many things. Some languages have special counting words for people that are not used for other things. There is no correct answer. You just get used to what you've got in your own language and try to get used to the differences in another language, just like I got used to using 'thou' without even really thinking about it.
Thinking too much is bad for you! |
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